Previewing the 2023 BBF Single A season: Richmond Dukes
By Alvin Michael | alvinmichael.com | @AlvinMicWrites | @alvinmicwrites
Richmond Dukes will head into the 2023 season with high hopes of winning it all on the back of a successful ’22 campaign.
Dukes made significant improvements last year, finishing tied for third place in South Central A with a 12-14 record, narrowly missing out on a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season.
Stella Veski, C
They were underdogs for most of the year, but that didn’t stop them from challenging and beating the best teams in Single A, including the South Central B winners, Herts Hawks, and National Championship Runners Up, Formosa Islanders.
At their very best, the Dukes were a match for any Single A team, but their inconsistency proved to be their downfall. An eight-game losing streak midway through the season was too tough to overcome down the stretch.
Their 12 wins, spurred on by moments of individual brilliance, as well as record setting team performances, was their highest single season mark since their 2013 National Championship winning campaign. The blend of youth and experience was marshalled superbly by manager Paul Tiley, who returns for another year at the helm.
Sam Hofbeck, P
Tiley was optimistic when asked about the team’s ambitions for 2023 saying, “[We] really have our eyes set on a playoff spot this year. We lost three or four games in late innings due to poor defence last year. If we can tighten up the defence and keep the bats going, this will be achievable. It has been many years, maybe four or five years, since the Dukes made the playoffs. So, a .500+ season and a playoff berth would be considered a success”.
It isn’t all about winning games for the Dukes, it’s also as much about playing for the love of the game. Dukes‘ player satisfaction was rated among the highest in the club, largely due to Tiley’s philosophy of ‘going out and enjoying yourself’, which won’t change for 2023 as he said, “The same again as last [year], fun and banter off the field.
“The vibe and energy at practice is already super high and [it’s] exciting to be a part of it”
“There were many highlights last year, but most of all it was the people and the group. We love baseball, we have a lot of fun regardless of your level. Spending Sundays with your mates is just going to make your week that much better”.
Jamie Griffiths, INF
Spring training so far has seen another new cohort of players of mixed abilities that will strengthen the club and put them in position to challenge for silverware come late Summer. “We have a great influx of new players. The enthusiasm is infectious.
“We have a good turn out from the returning players as well. The vibe and energy at practice is already super high and [it’s] exciting to be a part of it” said Tiley.
The Dukes’ roster is shaping up to be stronger than ever before. The returning core of veterans, with the potential addition of former Dragons, will provide invaluable experience for the rookies and younger players on the team. The potential for a top two finish and postseason berth is real and it will be exciting to see how far this team can go, as they continue to improve and build upon last year’s success.
Richmond Dukes’ ‘rally cap time’ in the bottom of the 9th inning of the final game of 2022.
With a plethora of newcomers and talent on the club’s roster this Spring, the Committee at Richmond Baseball Club have decided to reinstate the Richmond Barons. However, the Barons’ second stint in the BBF will be as Richmond’s new development squad in Single A. Look out for the final instalment of our preview series, that will highlight the return of the Barons.
Registration for the 2023 season is still open, and places are still available on all rosters. Richmond Baseball Cub welcomes all players, whether you are a seasoned veteran or a complete novice, male or female, older or younger; if you have an interest in playing baseball, click on the register button below to begin your journey with one of the most fun, friendly and inclusive ball clubs in the UK.